This Week I are mostly reading (contd)

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Lorna Doone has just been sitting there looking at me for 3 days now. I think I'm going to have to do the unthinkable and not finish it

I used to always have to finish books and then I realised life's too short! There are so many books that I want to read on my bookshelf alone, if I've given a book a chance and it hasn't grabbed my interest, I won't finish it. Don't get me wrong: I still struggle to abandon a book. I try and read at least a third of it before I give up and if it's a book someone has recommended/loaned to me, then I generally will finish it.

I'm currently struggling through We Need New Names. I might need to follow my own advice!

Finished reading My Cousin Rachel this morning. Very good book. I think I enjoyed the play more but would give it 4/5.

Next is Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption for the Light House Cinema Book Club. 20 years since the film was out. Looking forward to my second outing with Stephen King, I really enjoyed Misery!

Starting Cornac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses". I really enjoyed Child of God and The Road, so looking forward to getting stuck into this.

Auschwitz The Nazis & The 'Final Solution' by Laurence Rees

Reading The Terror by Dan Simmons. It's a slow burn, but he's one hell of a writer.

Callan57 wrote: »

Started on The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides - haven't formed an opinion yet

I love his writing but the plot of this one never gripped me like Middlesex - now that is a great book! I lost motivation towards the end with this one to honest.

Has anyone read The Virgin Suicides? Is it better than the movie?

Finished The Interestings on Friday. Loved it but I do always have a soft spot for books about groups of people coming together at stages though out their lives..Started The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. It hasn't really grabbed me yet but I'll stick with it. Off work next week, so am aiming to get stuck into The Goldfinch or The Luminaries. After that, it'll finally be back to Americanah

I read the new Sebastian Barry book "A Temporary Gentleman" last week, continuing on the story of the McNulty family from the Secret Scripture and The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty. It takes a while to get into it to be honest but fans of Sebastian Barry won't be disappointed overall. It's very interesting trying to piece together and remember the information we already know from previous books and see a new perspective on it. Overall I'd rate it below Secret Scripture and well below A long long way but still it's a decent read. It may be a coincidence or not but it's the first time his recently deceased mother (the actress Joan O'Hara, probably best known now as Eunice from Fair city) has appeared in one of his books (a semi fictitious representation) which chronicle his family history.

I started on This Sporting Life the other night, I've seen the movie with Richard Harris years ago, so far the book is a bit of a drag so after about 80 pages I may have given up on it. Started reading a Baseball book called Bottom of the 33rd last night which seems really good although it won't sell much copies in Ireland, anybody with an interest in sports books could do worse than read about baseball, it seems t inspire great writing as well as the best sports movies (IMO).

Finished a re read of Stephen Donaldson's A Man Rides Through. I must say I much more have enjoyed the 2 book Mordants Need series then his more highly touted Thomas Covenant series.

Tom Joad wrote: »

I personally think it was well deserved and absolutely loved the book. It would be very high on my all time list too but not too many agree with me here!

Awards are always subjective - I personally thought it was an excellent piece of writing and enjoyed it thoroughly, and don't understand the negativity (mostly here!) surrounding it.

I'm sure there's more people that like it than dislike it however.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I just thought it's a very basic book, if that makes sense. For all the praise it got I was expecting something life altering and amazing but it's just like any number of other so so books I've read. Nothing special. Obviously that's just one opinion.

Again fair enough - it's your opinion. My opinion is it's an excellent piece of fiction. I was unaware that a book was required to be "life altering" in order to be considered for awards....who knew??....I've never read any book that has been "life altering" - some are considerably better than others, but life altering? ..none.

I read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry based on Kerry4Sam's thread and it is a beautifully written, sad and poignant story of life and loss and the overriding message is that it's never too late to make amends.

On to the latest Nesbo book, Police, now.

read the Adjustment Team in a few hours (Im a very slow reader) and then started Jurassic Park. Only about 50 pages in but I really like it so far. Should be studying, but sure the sun is shining and I have a book to read god dammit !